SECT. XVI.

The NAZARITES.

So much, for those Perfons who were employ'd in the Administration of Religi ous Affairs, in the Service of the Tabernacle and Temple. We have yet, under the Name of Holy Perfons, fome others to treat of; fuch as in the old Teftament, we find, were call'd Nazarites, Prophets, and Scribes. Of thefe, in their feveral

Turns.

We will begin with the Nazarites: who were a kind of Religious, that confecrated themselves to God by a Vow for a Time; whereby, they likewife bound themselves to certain Rules and Abstinences, during the whole Time of their Vows. What the Law injoins concerning them, vi. 1, &c. is as follows; When either man or woman Shall Separate themselves, to vow a vow of a *Nazarite, to Separate themselves unto the LORD. He fhall feparate himself from wine and strong drink,and shall drink no vinegar

Numb.

*Which Word fignifies One that is separated.

of

T

of wine or vinegar of strong drink; neither Shall be drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moift grapes or dried. All the days of his separation, fhall be eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the busk. All the days of the vow of his feparation, there shall come no razor upon bis bead; until the days be fulfill'd, in which he feparateth himself unto the LORD, 3 he shall be holy; and shall let the locks of the bair of his head grow. He fhall come at no dead body. He shall not make himfelf unclean (mourn) for his father, or for

ZI

1

•

.

bis mother, for his brother, or for his fifter, when they die. And, if any man die very fuddenly, by him, and he hath defiled the bead of his confecration; then he shall fhave his head, in the day of his cleanfing; on the feventh day shall he have it: and on the eighth day, he shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons, to the Prieft, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And the Priest shall offer the one for a fin-offering, and the other for à burntoffering, and make an atonement for him, and ball ballow his head that fame day. And he shall confecrate unto the LORD

the days of his feparation; and shall bring a lamb of the first year, for a trefpafs-offering: But the days that were before, shall be loft; because his feparation was defiled.

These were the Conditions of the Vow; then follows an Account of what Offerings were to be made, and other Particulars to be observed, at the Expiration of the Term, for which the Vow was made. After which it is faid; This is the law of the Nazarite, who hath vowed; and of his offering unto the LORD for his feparation, befides that that his hand fhall get. Which makes it reafonable to conclude, that this Vow was undertaken, mostly, by People in narrow Circumftances; who, having nothing else to offer, offer'd themfelves to the LORD; and therefore it was look'd upon as a very meritorious and holy Action, A Pair of Turtles, was the Offering of those who were not of Ability to afford a better. But we find, better was expected, if his Hand shou'd get it; if he throve and profper'd in the World, afterwards.

We have one notable Inftance of this Kind, in Samfon; concerning whom, an

Angel

2

al

an Angel declares, even before he was conceiv'd, that no razor fhould come upon his head, for he fhould be a Nazarite unto God from the womb. Then the woman came and told her husband, faying, A man of God faid unto me, Behold, thou fhalt conceive, and bear a fon: and now drink no wine nor ftrong drink, neither eat any unclean thing; for the child fhall be a Nazarite to God, from the womb to the day of his death. Upon this Condition, he was to deliver Ifrael. And therefore when, afterwards, his Hair was cut off by Dalis lab, his great Strength immediately left him. We have another Inftance in Samuel; whofe Mother vowed a vow, and faid, O 1 Sam. i. 5 LORD of Hofts, if thou wilt indeed look 64 on the affliction of thine handmaid, and give unto thine handmaid a man-child, then 3 I will give him unto the LORD, all the days of his life; and there fhall no razor come upon his head.

II.

Of the temporary Vow of Nazaritifm, we have fomething occurs in two Places in the New Teftament: And, both, *I

Judg. xiii.

5.

* Hammond thinks the first relates to Aquila, St. Paul's Companion.

X 2

think,

think, relating to St. Paul. In the firft, Actsxviii. he is faid, to have fhorn his head in Cenchrea; for he had a vow. Not, that the Term, for which he had vow'd, was expir'd; but because he had been polluted by fome accidental Impediment, and was to purify himself, and fo proceed in his Separation. In the fecond, we find him at Jerufalem; where, because he had given Offence to fome Judaizing Christians, in admitting the Gentiles without obliging them to be circumcis'd, St. James, (who, probably, knew of his Vow) advises him to clear himself from all fuch cenforious Afperfions, by a favourable Opportunity; ib. xxi. Do this therefore, fays he, that we say to thee; we have four men which have a vow on them: them take, and purify thy felf with them, and be at charges with them (be at the Expence of procuring Offerings for them, for they are poor) that they may have their heads: and all may know, that thofe things whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thy Self, walkeft alfo orderly and keepeft the law.

23.

And, accordingly, this good-natur'd Apostle, (who was all things to all Men, in all